November 28: ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY

November 28, 2023 Brooklyn Eagle History

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ON THIS DAY IN 1915, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle reported, “Seventy percent of the people of the United States use electricity in some of its forms or ramifications every day of their lives. Ten percent of the population of the country absolutely depend upon it for their daily bread. Those facts were paramount considerations when a number of leading representatives of the united electrical interests of the country sat and gravely weighed the words Electrical Prosperity Week, as applied to the great six-day nation-wide electrical celebration from November 29 to December 4. The title is timely in significance, hopeful in tone, positive in effect, and, best of all, human. ‘Prosperity’ is one of the most wholesome words in the English language. Specified as ‘Electrical’ it becomes one of the cardinal elements of modern progress. It is altogether fitting that such a title be applied to a week which aims to achieve optimism, confidence and faith everywhere in America, as a preliminary to the greatest trade and education campaign in history. An elementary object of the campaign is to educate and demonstrate to the public a better knowledge of Electricity — what it has done and is able to do in the home, on the farm, in the factory and in all industries. This done, it is hoped the public will more thoroughly realize how essential to prosperity is the electrification of all life’s activities.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1925, the Eagle reported, “POLO GROUNDS (AP) — With the most spectacular picture of American football as its background, the Army and Navy elevens met this afternoon in the 28th battle of the series which annually brings the Eastern season to its most colorful climax. A gala, colorful crowd of 65,000 spectators, including high Government and service officials, thronged the big oval shaped National League Park to witness the spectacle and cheer the sparkling maneuvers of the midshipmen and cadets as well as the struggle for football supremacy. These maneuvers, occupying the better share of an hour before the game, thrilled the big gathering as first the trim, grey-clad cadet host, then the blue-uniformed ‘middy’ brigade marched on the field, wheeled through their formations and finally ‘double-timed’ to the cheering sections opposite each other in the center of the field. Stirring tunes by the rival bands added to the martial atmosphere, while even the weather, cool and brisk, added a snappy touch to the movements of the future admirals and generals.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1926, the Eagle reported, “NAPLES, NOV. 27 — Vesuvius is again aroused. A lava column six feet deep and 20 feet in width is flowing from the huge mouth of the crater. The mount resumed violent activities today and the column of streaming molten fluid has this evening already attained more than 1,500 meters, destroying all vegetation in its path, and is moving with unusual speed down the slope of the mountain. Simultaneously, a new eruptive cone, about 200 feet in diameter, was hurling skyward huge masses of incandescent material and showers of heavy flaming cinders, while deep ominous rumblings were punctuated by violent inner explosions heard for many miles. A gigantic column of enflamed smoke, studded with enormous sparks belching forth, presented a magnificent and awe-inspiring spectacle, not often seen in recent years. Professor Malladra, head of the Royal Observatory, spent most of last night and a large part of today studying the phenomenon and he gave assurances that there was no immediate danger. Nevertheless, residents of the hill towns are maintaining a sleepless vigil because of the dreaded power of Vesuvius, which is respected almost religiously here as ‘the mountain,’ like some deity.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1934, the Eagle reported, “Flatbush fans who boiled and fumed at Bill Terry’s Giants last Summer won’t have to wait for Spring to refuel the ancient Dodger-Giant grudge. It will be brought over the bridge to them tomorrow. It isn’t baseball this time, but any excuse to put the grudge to work satisfies your Flatbush feudist. Just the pestiferous caption, ‘New York Giants,’ whether on a baseball uniform or on football’s regalia, is enough for Flatbush. The New York Giants, Manhattan’s professional football heroes, will deploy against Shipwreck Kelly’s somewhat battered Dodgers tomorrow afternoon at Ebbets Field. The panic is on again and by strange coincidence, with a setting similar to that when Stengel’s Dodgers knocked off the despised Terrymen. New York’s football Giants can use a triumph over the Dodgers to sift into a championship football tussle with the amazing Chicago Bears. No one pretends that the Dodger-Giant football rivalry affects the Flatbush fans in the same wild-eyed degree the diamond tilts arouse. Pro football is gaining popularity with each succeeding season, still, as they say in baseball, ‘it’s in its infancy.’ As in the case of the Dodger-Giant baseball strife, it takes time to forge rough edges. Still, this gridiron offshoot of baseball’s lustiest grudge is budding most hopefully.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1951, the Eagle reported, “Audrey Hepburn, thanks to the unanimous critics’ praise accorded her performance, has been raised to star billing in ‘Gigi,’ the Gilbert Miller production which just opened at the Fulton.”

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NOTABLE PEOPLE BORN ON THIS DAY include Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Berry Gordy, Jr., who was born in 1929; Pro Football Hall of Famer Paul Warfield, who was born in 1942; Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Randy Newman, who was born in 1943; “Gremlins” director Joe Dante, who was born in 1946; bandleader Paul Shaffer, who was born in 1949; “Apollo 13” star Ed Harris, who was born in 1950; Space Shuttle astronaut Barbara Morgan, who was born in 1951; “Law & Order” star S. Epatha Merkerson, who was born in 1952; former N.Y. Yankees pitcher Dave Righetti, who was born in 1958; “St. Elmo’s Fire” star Judd Nelson, who was born in 1959; Oscar-winning filmmaker Alfonso Cuaron, who was born in 1961; TV host Jon Stewart, who was born in 1962; “Guardians of the Galaxy” star Karen Gillan, who was born in 1987; and “Reba” star Scarlett Pomers, who was born in 1988.